Lord Bassam of Brighton: The answers to the points raised are:
	(a) The Regulations regarding the registration of Births, Deaths and Missing Persons are laid down in the Civil Aviation (Births, Deaths and Missing Persons) Regulations 1948, as amended, made pursuant to Section 83 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1982. In general terms, if a death occurs on board an aircraft (which is not a consequence of an aircraft accident) anywhere in the world, the owner of the aircraft needs to notify the CAA of the death by completing the notification of deaths form and returning it to the Aircraft Registration Section. The regulation only covers aircraft that are registered in the UK and does not apply if the death occurs on an aircraft registered in another state, even if operated by a UK airline.(b) No limits are laid down concerning the length of time a deceased person may remain strapped in an aircraft seat.(c) There are no requirements for airlines to divert in the case of a death on board. Any guidance to the aircraft commander on actions to be taken following a death on board will be provided by the aircraft operator and set out in the operator's operations manual.(d) There are no requirements for an airline to provide specific facilities on board an aircraft to cater for a death in flight.(e) There are no regulations requiring an airline to pay compensation for any inconvenience caused to passengers as a result of a death on board.

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will support Botswana's application to the Committee on International Trade in Endangered Species to sell stocks of ivory accumulated from tusks recovered from elephants which died from natural causes; and whether they will encourage European Union member states to do likewise.

Lord Rooker: Natural England's report, Improving coastal access: Our advice to Government, will be published at the same time as we issue our public consultation document.

Lord Rooker: The Government have funded a number of studies to consider environmental impacts and benefits of biofuels, including emissions of nitrous oxides.
	Emissions of nitrous oxide associated with feedstock cultivation are mainly related to fertiliser production and application. The fertiliser nitrogen requirement of arable crops grown for fuel are little different from that required to grow the same crops for food.
	Both oxides of nitrogen (NOx—local pollutants) and nitrous oxide (N20—a powerful greenhouse gas) are produced during the combustion of biofuels. A DfT funded study found that at low level blends, emissions performance of vehicles are broadly the same as for fossil fuels (~0.007 N20 grams per kilometre (g/km)). Pure biofuels had a slightly higher rate of N20 emissions (~0.01 N20 g/km), but NOx emissions were 8 per cent lower than fossil fuels.
	Under the forthcoming Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, obligated companies will be required to report on the environmental impacts and lifecycle greenhouse gas benefits of the fuels that they supply. The Government are currently developing technical guidance to ensure reporting is consistent and robust.

Lord Rooker: The Government have funded a number of studies to evaluate the net lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions performance of biofuels. Such research routinely takes into account inputs such as levels of fertiliser application.
	Emissions associated with the production and use of fertiliser reduce the overall greenhouse gas benefits that biofuels offer. Nevertheless, most biofuels do offer worthwhile emissions savings. For example, UK biodiesel using rapeseed typically offers net lifecycle greenhouse savings of around 50 per cent compared with fossil diesel. Similar levels can be achieved through UK bioethanol derived from wheat. Actual levels of performance can vary widely according to the type of feedstocks used, the level of inputs, and the processing methods employed.
	Under the forthcoming Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), obligated companies will be required to report on the lifecycle greenhouse gas benefits of the fuels that they supply. The Government are currently developing the technical guidance that transport fuel suppliers will have to use when calculating their greenhouse gas savings. This will ensure that reporting under the obligation is consistent. In the future, when the reporting system has demonstrated that it is sufficiently robust, the Government are keen to move to a system under which biofuels are rewarded under the RTFO according to their carbon-saving performance. The Government are seeking views in their public consultation on the RTFO, available via the DfT website, on whether, how and when, the RTFO might directly incentivise use of biofuels according to their carbon performance.

Lord Davies of Oldham: In February 2006, the Minister for Sport held meetings between betting companies and football authorities over the use of football's fixture data.
	Since then, the Minister and DCMS officials have met and corresponded with representatives of the football authorities on a number of occasions and have made it clear that:
	we are not considering seeking to introduce a sports specific intellectual property right; and we favour voluntary financial agreements between the sports and betting industries.

Baroness Andrews: The Secretary of State's approach to calling in applications for her own determination remains in line with that set out in a parliamentary Statement made by Richard Caborn, the then Planning Minister, in 1999. [Hansard, Written Answer, 16 June 1999, col. 138] The Secretary of State's policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. She will only take this step if planning decisions of more than local importance are involved. However, each case will be considered on its individual merits.
	Cases that may be called in may include, for example, those which in the Secretary of State's opinion:
	may conflict with national policies on important matters;could have significant effects beyond their immediate vicinity;give rise to substantial regional or national controversy;raise significant architectural or urban design issues; ormay involve the interests of national security or of foreign Governments.
	Planning Circular 01/2006, Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites, offers guidance on major development projects and states:
	"A major development or redevelopment project may require the permanent or temporary relocation of a gypsy or traveller site. An onus should be placed on the planning applicant to identify and provide an alternative site, providing the original site has a legal status. The local planning authority should work with the planning applicant and the affected gypsy and traveller community to identify a site (or sites) that would be suitable for relocating this community. In proposing relocation and in seeking a relocation site regard will need to be paid both to the gypsy and traveller community's social, economic and environmental needs and identified social, economic, and environmental benefits that the major development/redevelopment project will bring to the locality and the broader area".

Lord Davies of Oldham: Her Majesty's Government believe that the exchange of banknotes into other currencies is a commercial matter for the parties involved.
	The acceptability of any banknotes will be influenced by the parties' familiarity with the banknotes and consequent ability to authenticate them as genuine as well as their ability to obtain value for the banknote.
	The four banknote denominations issued by the Bank of England account for around 90% of banknotes issued in the United Kingdom. In contrast, the three commercial note issuing banks in Scotland and four in Northern Ireland collectively issue 39 banknotes designs. Consequently, some Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes may not be as readily recognised and accepted overseas as Bank of England banknotes.
	Her Majesty's Government believes that the responsibility for promoting recognition and encouraging the acceptance of Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes lies with the issuing banks.
	The exchange rate offered for Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes overseas will be influenced by the acceptor's perception of his ability to obtain value for the banknote. As these banknotes are not liabilities of a central bank, some parties may reflect this in the exchange rate offered.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Lester of Herne Hill, dated 28 March 2007.
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question inquiring whether there are any reliable estimates of the proportions of Sunni and Shia Muslims ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. [HL2808]
	I would refer you to the Answer given in Official Report, Volume 690, No 58, col. 134, which explains that information requested is not available.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, under the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007, it will be the responsibility of veterinary surgeons to ensure that measures to improve environmental conditions or management systems have been taken to prevent tail-biting before pigs' tails are docked; and, if not, what means of enforcement they envisage.

Baroness Andrews: We expect the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs assessment for London to be published in the autumn. The London Development Agency, which is responsible for clearing the Olympic Zone, and the local authorities that provide the sites on which the Gypsies and Travellers are currently living, are working to ensure that their accommodation needs are met.

Lord Rooker: The following table lists the domestic and non-domestic regional rate in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 Year Domestic Regional Rate Poundage (pence) * Non-Domestic Regional Rate Poundage (pence) 
			 2006-07 198.17 28.17 
			 2005-06 166.53 27.27 
			 2004-05 152.78 26.40 
			 2003-04 140.42 **25.56 
			 2002-03 132.47 31.42 
			 * net of Domestic Rate and Grant (DRAG) 
			 ** Non-domestic revaluation (5th reval) 
		
	
	The regional rate is an unhypothecated tax and is not allocated to specific areas of expenditure, but instead contributes to the overall resources available to the Secretary of State to allocate to regional public services in Northern Ireland.

Lord Triesman: The report of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Mission to Sudan, issued on 12 March, confirms concerns we already have about the grave human rights situation in Darfur. We are working with partners at the HRC to pass a resolution in support of the report.
	We are working at the UN-Security Council to impose further measures on those responsible for violating UN Security Council Resolution 1591, including targeted sanctions against individuals. There must be no impunity for human rights abuses.

Lord Triesman: The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Mission to Sudan issued a damning report on 12 March, confirming what we already knew about the grave human rights situation in Darfur.
	My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, and the UK Permanent. Representative to the HRC, called on the Council to take effective action on Darfur and not become mired in procedural debates. We do not accept the argument that the mission report lacks validity because the mission failed to go to Sudan. The Government of Sudan reneged on their commitment to co-operate with the mission and refused to grant visas to all members of the mission, so, rightly, none of the members went. The report is based on the assessments of UN humanitarian agencies, the African Union in Addis Ababa and UN High Commissioner for Refugees in eastern Chad. All of these organisations, which have large numbers of staff operating in Darfur and Eastern Chad, continue to report an appalling human rights and humanitarian situation there. We are lobbying partners, including China and Russia, to ensure that the report's recommendations are taken forward.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have no current plans to exempt sport's national governing bodies from corporation tax. The Government fully recognise the important role of national governing bodies in helping achieve its objectives, particularly in encouraging grass roots and schools sporting activity. The Government, too, have demonstrated their practical commitment to sport at all levels through a variety of funding mechanisms.

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 March (WA 189) about medical examination for vehicle licences, which particular certificates will be subject to the standard rate of VAT.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Employers are already granted tax relief against their business tax bill for volunteering by their employees in charities and educational establishments, many of which have objectives and engage in activities linked to sport. There has been investment across government in sector-specific volunteering, through for example the Step into Sport programme, the Department of Health's Opportunities for Volunteering programme and the DfES Community Champions scheme.

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Welsh Office were aware by 1988 that the discharge at Brofiscin quarry contained carcinogens and was hazardous to users of the groundwater; and, if so, what measures were taken to protect humans, farm livestock, wildlife, vegetation and the soil close to the quarry and along water courses that carried the discharge.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The Welsh Office commissioned a survey of contaminated land in Wales which was undertaken by Liverpool University who produced a report in August 1988, which included information about the Brofiscin site. The report suggested that the disposal of such wastes on permeable limestone could present a hazard to users of local groundwaters, although it did not identify any specific hazards. Previous investigations had also concluded that there were no proven or immediate risks to human health. There was some evidence of pollutants affecting grazing livestock, and measures had been taken to prevent or discourage the grazing of animals in areas polluted by surface water runoff. No groundwater supplies in the immediate vicinity of the site were or are currently used for human consumption.
	In 1988, land not due for redevelopment had historically been dealt with via the statutory nuisance powers of local authorities. However, new legislation, implemented in Wales in 2001, has provided an improved system for the identification and remediation of land where contamination is causing unacceptable risks to human health or the wider environment. This aims to ensure that land is returned to a condition suitable for its current use.
	Current site investigation work will be completed in April. This will enable the Environment Agency to make an informed decision on the most appropriate remedial solutions.

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Bearing in mind that the company Monsanto have admitted to a daily discharge of 3.74 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the sewers from their Newport factory and into the River Severn, what measures have been taken to assess the health of humans, animals and plants on the land and in the water which may have been contaminated by the discharge.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Monsanto discontinued PCB manufacture at its Newport site in the 1970s. Detailed discharge records are no longer available. The current owner of the site is Solutia UK Ltd.
	A Pollution Prevention Control Permit was issued to Solutia by the Environment Agency in 2004. It required the company to undertake an environmental risk assessment of Polychlorobiphenyl (PCBs) releases into the Severn estuary arising as a result of historic contamination that occurred during Monsanto's ownership.
	This assessment was completed and submitted to the agency in 2005. The Food Standards Agency reviewed the assessment and concluded that the operation was unlikely to have any unacceptable affects on the human food chain.
	Current releases of historic PCB contamination from the Solutia Newport site into the Severn estuary are in the order of 4.4 pounds (2 kilogrammes) per year.

Lord Rooker: Ofwat is the economic regulator of the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Companies report to Ofwat each year on their expenditure (both capital and operating costs) to deliver water and sewerage services. These reports are available on Ofwat's website and include the additional costs of water treatment to reduce levels of pesticides and nitrates and other parameters to comply with water quality standards and also to reduce the risk from cryptosporidium.
	Companies report additional capital expenditure for new assets on a disaggregated basis by nitrates, pesticides, cryptosporidium and other parameters. The additional operating costs are reported as an overall figure for these new assets.